Sad sad post today.To the left is a picture of me outside Abbey Road studios in 2005. From the outside, this place still looks like what it once was: A Georgian town house in the suburbs of north London with a famous pedestrian crossing once used by the Beatles nearby. Yet on the inside, this place contains a notable slice of not only British but recording musical history. And unfortunately, shortly it will be going up for sale.
Cash strapped music company EMI is currently looking for a buyer for this famous studio. Its the place where the Beatles recorded some of their most notable tracks using the studio for most of their recording during 1962-1969. The sale of this studio will definitely mark the end of an era of music. For it was not just The Beatles who called Abbey Road their home, their have been countless number of artists that have walked that street and recorded some amazing tracks from inside those walls. In no particular order (because lets be honest that would be impossible) here are the top five recordings from Abbey Road studios.
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Perfectionists Pink Floyd choose the Abbey Road studios to record what many consider to be their musical masterpiece and because at the time Abbey Road was capable of making that perfect multi-layered sound that they wanted to create. The outcome was an album that has lasted for over 40 years.
The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)
Before this album Abbey Road was simply known as the EMI studios, yet all of that changed after the Beatles recorded their legendary album here. Its an album that has been enshrined in pop music history and ultimately gave the studio its name. Its also one of the last studio albums from the band.
Oasis - Be Here Now (1997)
This was the third album from the British rockers, who at the time became "bigger than, dare I say it, f**king God!"(N. Gallegher). The expectations of the band were high, but apparently not as high as everyone involved was, if the stories of the epic drug consumption in the studio ring true. The album came out to lavish praise and flew off the shelves across the world.
Radiohead - The Bends (1995)
The band was under extreme pressure to capitalise on the commercial success of their debut album and it near put an end to the band all together. First, the recording was delayed, then the label wanted to release a single to the public but the band fought and couldn't pick one they agreed on. Basically anything and everything that could go wrong with a recording session did. Yet somehow it all worked out in the end: the album was was well received and took the band in the direction they wanted to go.
The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King (2003)
Yes, the movie soundtrack. All of the music for all three films were recorded at Abbey Road studio but it was the third that was by far the most interesting. Annie Lennox was featured on a song as well as actors Billy Boyd, Viggo Mortensen and Liv Tyler also contributed to the soundtrack. It won Oscars for score and sound.
RIP Abbey Road. And thank you for all the great tunes....
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